Sunday, 22 January 2006

Things God Said #1 and #2

Things God said #1

My precocious niece has taught me something already. It was an amazing thing to hold her. She didn't have to do ANYTHING to make me completely delight in her. It didn't matter that her little head was a bit wonky and pointed from having a sucker thing put on her head during the birth, because she was beautiful. God is our father. We don't have to do ANYTHING to make Him completely delight in us. He rejoices over us with singing. I find it so difficult to believe this kind of stuff, but I caught a little glimpse of it in Elizabeth, and it made me smile all of Thursday morning.

Things God said #2

I had one of those sermons this morning that God prepares especially for you, and comes over and whispers in just your ear as the minister speaks. Last night I had to give up something really, really precious - something which seemed to offer me joy and delight and Good Things, but which took my eyes and heart away from Him. Giving up something costly tends to make you wonder if we've got this whole thing right. Is this promise really worth it? Abram was thinking something rather similar (coincidence?) when he refuses the riches that Melchizedek offered him, because of an oath that he had made with God. "After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.'" In other words, 'yes, it is worth it, and no, I will not abandon you until you get Home, I Myself will be your shield.' And Abram, refreshingly, wobbles and says, 'um, yeah but have you seen my wife lately? She's pretty old! Where are these offspring you promised?' He says 'look at all those stars! I made them. It wasn't hard for Me, and niether is anything else.' God reminded me that His promise is sure, and His promise is worth it.